Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Hong Kong.
He was taken into custody by the Philippine National Police and Interpol, acting on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant charging him with crimes against humanity related to the Philippine drug war
Duterte was flown to The Hague, Netherlands on the same day to face trial at the ICC.
Background of the Arrest
The ICC issued a warrant for Duterte’s arrest on March 7, 2025, charging him with crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial killings during his tenure as Mayor of Davao City and as President of the Philippines
Duterte’s arrest was carried out under Operation Pursuit, a plan devised by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to execute the ICC warrant. The operation involved the coordination of the PNP, Interpol, and other government agencies
Reactions to the Arrest
Duterte’s supporters have staged protests and rallies across the country, calling for his release and criticizing the government’s handling of the situation. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has also spoken out against the arrest, labeling it as “state kidnapping
On the other hand, human rights groups and critics of Duterte have welcomed the arrest, seeing it as a step towards accountability for the alleged human rights abuses committed during his presidency.
